After seeing the Ellen performance we need a reminder
 

When they gave a ****. When everything mattered.
Every note, every pull of every guitar string, every last breath:

The Chain live from 1982.

https://youtu.be/dGykwC0fdJ4


Fleetwood Mac had something to prove today.

And they didn’t play like they did.

They have a lot of ground to cover over the next 4 weeks.
I have faith in them, but today was disappointing.

Boy do I miss Lindsey.
And I understand he wasn’t easy to be with at times and that he and Stevie weren’t getting along;
but after today I wish they had kept it together for the music. It would have been their finest punk rock moment. Zero ****s to give for the spirit of rock and roll one last time.

In spite of themselves.

The Mirage video has "sweetened"(overdubbed) audio. So that's not all live sound you're hearing.

Of course it does.
But that doesn’t hide the fact that they cared about that show.
Every note, every word is sung like they care.

I miss those days — so glad I saw that tour.

Yeah, I know. But that was also...36(F*CK!) years ago. They were half their age now. It was a lot easier(I'd guess, anyway), to give it your all.....be competitive, etc. They're geriatric now. I'd say they're lucky just to be able to go through the motions now, tbh.

I hear ya.
They just looked and sounded under caffeinated today.
I know the mix was horrible and Mike will get into his grove soon, but they weren’t ready today.

Let’s not wax too poetic about that era…



The Chain was even worse, but it got taken down.

At worst, Neil looked a little nervous and the mix was off. Everyone else was on par with their norm, at least over the past few years. And what do they really have to prove at this point? They’ve all successful careers, even one of their their backing vocalists.

I agree. Mike and Neil both looked scared. You gotta own it! Not stand there like you're scared to death.

And lose that tiny keyboard that Mike's playing, looking like a two year old, single finger plinking it! #f*ckingridiculous

I got douche chills and couldn't watch more then five seconds. Total embarrassment. Are you happy Tambourine B/witch???

Plus, they were seven years in with that lineup by that point. They had four albums and hundreds of shows under their belt. They had instinct and chemistry that developed over time.

LOL

Hats off to you, Steve. You must have an indexed list of all the hilarious mishaps from over the years. I got a good nostalgic laugh when you reminded me of the GYOW mishap from the Today Show. Keep them coming please!

The mixing on Second Hand News is hilarious!

I guess we don't appreciate a good mixer until we no longer have one.

(Just like some people might not have appreciated the edginess that Lindsey brought to the equation until now. (Maybe back in the TITN/BTM tours, Stevie still had enough edginess to compensate for his absence.))

I always thought the 1987 Rick and Billy and newly klonopinned Stevie's version of The Chain was the worst. The guitar intro was bad and almost amateur sounding. Stevie lacked her usual Chain passion. They used both Rick and Billy in 1987 to sing together on Lindsey parts which sounded bad. That was a bad idea. In 1990 I believe only Billy was singing Lindsey's parts.
So lets also remember the other Chains. While Ellen was not the best, there have been worse :eek:

Steve
Check out the other bands at the US Festival. We used to think it was just the Mac that sounded bad with horrible mixing. Newly added videos from the US Festival have been added to youtube. Ozzy fans shriek at the mixing of the keyboards during Crazy Chain. Motley Crue sound horrible. Not sure why but the mixing of all bands was very bad.

That instinct and chemistry was already there with their first tour together and just got better over time.

I didn't like Neil's singing on The Chain. Mike is a great guitarist, but he needs to open it up. He probably will the longer they play together, but he's a "different" guitarist than Lindsey, both style-wise and outward emotions-wise (at least from what I can remember). Mick, Stevie and Christine looked extremely happy. I thought Mick was playing forcefully.

Didn't like Stevie's voice on Gypsy, but the music sounded ok, but there is something missing (at least to me). The thought crossed that I was watching Stevie's 2nd solo band.

I do miss Lindsey, but I've thought for at least the last 5 years that I think his voice seems "shot". I'm looking forward to seeing him in the upcoming tour though.

Agreed!:thumbsup:

Yeah, they weren’t having an off night, it was all the mixing…



ETA: Great poker face.

The Chain from the Mirage video will probably always be my fav rendition of that song. It’s just so visceral, passionate, and instrumentally spare. Lindsey & Stevie were totally dueling with each other vocally. Yeah, Lindsey’s voice is more ragged now but he at least still brought the energy & emotion to the table with the Chain. Yesterday I felt like it was performed apologetically. The Chain should be a song to get the audience hyped up and excited- there should be some energy & drama present. If they continue playing the song this way it will make for a super lame opening statement for their shows.

Yeah, that was something. I was intrigued to see the new members but as soon as she started singing I remember thinking something wasn't right. I couldn't put my finger on it, it's not like she was a complete slug. But she sounded different, or maybe they used a different mic for her from that point on. Fast forward to her next solo tour in 1989 and I was hoping for the best, but it was even worse.

Of course they were all high like everyone else. The Mac played high probably every night on the Mirage tour. The mixing is way off which makes the singing and music seem way off regardless of missing a few cues. Not talking about that.

Agree 100% but also for Christine. Mirage tour she is singing her heart out during the chain which is something she usually does not do.

But that’s my point. How easy it is to make excuses for subpar performances by a lineup deep in the game, but heaven forbid the new lineup has a timid debut performance on daytime television (where they always nail it :rolleyes:).

Funny how the most critical voices are the ones that weren’t going to be objective in the first place.

So, basically, in the past, when they've been bad, people have made excuses.

Now, you're the one having to make excuses.

But the point remains...

They were bad.

Yep.

Not at all. Just like with LBCM, I want to give it a chance in its natural setting before I pass judgement. TV isn’t their strong suit.

They were adequate and timid on TV, not great. Wasn’t expecting them to be. At least they played the right songs. I need proper shows to make a judgment, and not necessarily right up front.

These people are veterans. Every single one of them. Yes it's a new lineup yes they are still rehearsing yes yes yes. But it is not unrealistic to think they would have come out stronger and with more energy -- even if they were faking it and really feeling nervous underneath-- than they did. They've all played for over 50 years live. And presumably they also didn't have the excuse of being high.

They are Vets, and let's be honest--4 of them know these songs in their sleep. They delayed the start of the tour to rehearse longer. I agree, they should have come out stronger. It was a fail. And Ellen gushing about how good they were almost seemed forced--making me wonder, was it more awkward in person? But that is total speculation
I've seen folks saying Neil's energy won't be like Lindsey's (no matter how in synch they get--that was 100% apparent yesterday) but he will be "fine" I am sorry, "fine" may cut it in the Mohegan Sun arena, but it's not gonna work in MSG or the Forum.

yup. i see excuses from many who are enthusiastic about the "new band" and here and there some article that looks almost like an PR-paid advertisement expounding accolades for the greatness that nobody has seen.

sounds like they were bad. :shrug:

At least they played the right song…

i love everything about that freezing cold performance - from guitar sounding horribly out of tune, to wrong songs, to hot LB being dressed like it's a nice spring day - thanks for bringing it back!!

Are you talking about the kind of chemistry you snort
up your nose?

Besides age, I think lack of chemistry has a lot to do with it.

somebody should re-introduce this band to Cocaine.

:lol::lol::lol::lol::lol::lol:

Might be the only thing that can save them now

That's kind of what I was thinking.
Like coked-up Lindsey on SNL all
those years ago. He looked like his
head was going to explode.

Who are you talking about?
I never bashed the Ellen performance. I said it was ok. I never said the sound was off. I said it was a missed opportunity to highlight the new members instead of trying to duplicate Lindsey. I think you comment here too much and have me confused with someone else.

A much more recent needed reminder
 

This is from just a little over a year ago. Yea I know it’s a different song but it’s not about the song or even the vocals but the intensity she brings here. This is why I haven’t given up on Fleetwood Mac being able to bring excitement without Lindsey.





https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=7lQbnh-a2ag

Administered by a medical professional, and I vote yes.

see now, i know this is a joke. and i like joking and hyperbole and speculation - that's why many of us are here.

but i do have a problem with jokes like this. members of this band were extremely lucky they got out alive and presumably are all clean and living healthy now.

I agree with you, she had many great performances during that tour. But I think she’s much happier performing solo than with FM, and she especially loved the 24 karat tour. I’d be surprised if she has the same kind of energy during this FM tour.

Even with the sound/mic problems, out of tune singing, and tempo issues, this version of "Second Hand News" from the '82 US Festival contains more passion, anger, and energy than the bland karaoke performance that Fleetwood Mac gave on The Ellen Show. I'll take the 1982 Mac with rips, pops, cracks and all.

Unfortunately, the days of live music are OVER. Most 2018 touring band arena shows are nothing more than karaoke. With pre-recorded backup tracks, harmony vocals pre-recorded, and enough backing musicians for a Broadway show, today's live music scene is boring. The shows are so musically set in stone, that the set list can't even be changed.

I'm shelling out nearly $600 for two seats when you factor in convenience fees, parking, and beverages. For that price, we'll just fly to New York City or San Francisco for a mini-vacation. I'll catch some live music in a Greenwich Village bar with more energy.

2018 Fleetwood Mac--no thanks.

I hear you and agree except...

No way two people can fly to NYC or San Francisco and take a mini vacation for $600.

From where I'm at, I have many times purchased $300 round trip specials to both cities. $600 would be the cost of RT travel. I have friends in both cities that provide lodging. Thus, for a few more dollars (the price of a few drinks, light meals, and subway fare), I have an automatic vacation to the east/west coast.

Hmmm....2 hours of dinosaur karaoke, OR east/west coast trip? I'll take the latter.